PARKS 2020 VISION ORTH Distinctive Features I The St. John’s Racquet Center provides three indoor courts. Description: The North sub-area (see map at end of I There are two Community Schools. The sub-area this section) is comprised of three main parts — a large includes 21 school sites, which represent nearly residential area, a large recreation and natural resource half of the area’s recreation sites. area, and the Rivergate Industrial area. Resources and Facilities: The North sub-area has 1,232 Population – Current and Future: The North sub-area acres of parkland, ranking second in total park acreage. is fifth in terms of population, with 51,500 people and is Most of the neighborhood and community parks are projected to grow to 57,290 by 2020 - an increase of 10%. developed and provide many recreation opportunities. Their size, location, and condition are generally good. I The award winning Heron Lakes Golf Course (2 courses) is located within West Delta Park DISTRIBUTION OF SUBAREA ACRES BY PARK TYPE as is the Portland International Raceway which hosts numerous race car events. I Kelley Point Park sits at the confluence of the Columbia and Willamette Rivers. I Smith and Bybee Lakes – an 1800-acre site owned by Metro – is a significant natural resource in the area and the largest urban wetland in the country. I The Columbia Slough winds its way through the area, providing wildlife habitat. Trails along the Slough, the Peninsula Crossing Trail and other portions of the 40-Mile Loop are within this sub-area. I There are three community garden sites with 78 plots. I The area is served by two large community centers – University Park and St. Johns Community Centers, and Overlook House – a small meeting house. I There are two aquatic facilities – the indoor pool at Columbia and the outdoor pool at Pier Park. 48 PORTLAND PARKS & RECREATION North Issues and Needs I The mechanical equipment, pool deck, and bathhouse at the outdoor pool in Pier Park are substandard and in poor condition. PARK SHORTAGES I The Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center (IFCC) I The North sub-area has two small park-deficient has limited programmable space. areas: I University Park Community Center was built as • The area bounded by N. Portland Blvd., a temporary facility in the ‘40s. It is in fair to N. Interstate and N. Prescott poor condition. • The area bounded by N. Lombard Ave., N. Burlington Ave., the Willamette River and PROBLEMS WITH ACCESS, TRAILS AND CONNECTIVITY the Peninsula Crossing Trail I Access to the Slough, its habitat areas and portions of the 40-Mile Loop Trail, is difficult because of RISKS TO NATURAL RESOURCES heavy traffic and inadequate pedestrian crossings I Increased visitation to Kelley Point Park and on Columbia Boulevard. Smith and Bybee Lakes will impact the health I Lack of access to facilities and the cost of programs and integrity of the habitat areas. often result in lower participation rates in PP&R I Contaminated sediments in the Columbia programs by the many minority groups and some Slough affect water quality. lower-income households in North. I Links to the 40-Mile Loop from the residential areas (e. g., St. Johns) are limited. RISKS TO URBAN FOREST I There are a significant number of mature and over-mature trees and many areas where trees North Recommendations have not been replaced in the urban forest. I Lower income residents may not be able to ACQUIRE LAND AND DEVELOP PARKS afford to participate in tree planting and tree care on private property and in public rights-of-way. I Acquire and develop urban and neighborhood parks in areas of high density along the Interstate MAX line. FACILITY DEFICIENCIES I Renovate and improve existing parks (e. g., Patton I The indoor pool at Columbia Park (built as an and Overlook Parks) along the Interstate MAX line, outdoor pool in 1927, converted to indoor in the provide a walkway along the Willamette Bluff, and ‘70s and renovated in the late ‘80s) is a stand-alone provide additional open space and community facility with no off-street parking – conditions that buildings at Ockley Green and Kenton schools. do not meet current PP&R standards. I Improve parks, acquire additional open space, complete the 40-Mile Loop trail and provide access 49 PARKS 2020 VISION and a canoe launch as part of the Interstate Urban I Evaluate current conditions and future needs of all Renewal Area. aquatic facilities in the North sub-area to determine I Develop new parks along the Willamette River – construction and renovation needs. Address the especially the two relatively large parcels of future of Pier and Columbia Park pools as well as undeveloped open space — the former heavy whether pools should be added at the St. John’s industrial sites at Willamette Cove and the Community Center or at the University Park McCormick Baxter site. Once site cleanups are Community Center. completed and master plans are approved, these I Develop new sports fields. Potential sports field two sites will offer many possibilities for natural sites include: Northgate and Woodlawn Parks, areas, river access, active and passive recreation. as well as the McCormick Baxter site, when it I Develop new parks, local access and non-motorized is cleaned, available and has an approved watercraft access along the Columbia Slough and master plan. the Willamette River. I Develop additional group picnic sites, possibly at Pier, Columbia and Kelley Point Park. I PROTECT AND IMPROVE NATURAL RESOURCES Work with the IFCC Board, PP&R staff and PDC to evaluate this facility — either to expand its I Control access to, manage the use of, and improve programmable space or to relocate to a larger the quality of natural resource areas, especially at and more modern facility. Kelley Point and Cathedral Parks and at Smith and I Add seniors-only and/or intergenerational Bybee Lakes. programs at St. John's and University Park I Acquire and manage valuable oak-madrone habitat Community Centers. along Mock’s Crest. I Increase cooperation with schools and organiza- I Work with City bureaus and the Port of Portland to tions who work with under-served groups (e.g., the improve habitat quality in and along the Columbia Housing Authority/PP&R partnership for recreation Slough at Kelley Point and Kenton Parks. programs in the Hope VI project and UPCC). I Work with Metro, the Port and other City bureaus I Develop a maintenance facility in the North to establish natural areas and access on the District closer to the park sites. Columbia River. I Implement the Willamette Cove Master Plan, DEVELOP PARK ACCESS, TRAILS AND CONNECTIVITY after remediation is approved and completed. I Develop safe pedestrian connections between the area’s neighborhoods and the rivers, the PROTECT AND IMPROVE URBAN FOREST Columbia Slough, Kelley Point Park, and Smith and Bybee Lakes. I Replace the declining canopy in parks and public right-of-way. Encourage tree planting on private I Create a community wide network of trails in property. addition to the Peninsula Crossing and Columbia Sough Trails. I Develop funding strategies to assist low-income property owners in tree planting and tree care. I Implement the recommendations of the feasibility study for a North Portland Willamette Greenway trail, including routes through the McCormick and EXPAND AND DEVELOP RECREATION FACILITIES AND Baxter site and Swan Island. PROGRAMS I Increase paved trails by about 35 miles, and I Complete renovation of the University Park increase soft-surface trails by about 40 miles. Community Center and add an aquatic complex. I Work cooperatively with the Golf enterprise As an alternative, complete a modest renovation program to develop trails at the Heron Lakes of University Park Community Center and build a Golf Course. new full-service community center with aquatic facilities at another site. 50 PORTLAND PARKS & RECREATION 51 PARKS 2020 VISION NORTH SUB-AREA – Park Sites to be Developed and Renovated Site Name Develop Redevelop Extensive Basic Repairs Notes New Park Exstg. Park Renovation Renovation Arbor Lodge Park G Cathedral Park G Columbia Park G Columbia Annex G Delta Park, West (also see P.I.R. below) G a Gammans Park G George Park G Kelley Point Park G b Kenton Park G McKenna Park G Northgate Park G Overlook Park G Patton Square G Pier Park G Portland International Raceway G c Portsmouth Park G St. Johns Park G Trenton Park G University Park G Develop New Park Unimproved sites to be developed as neighborhood, community or regional parks. Master plans are needed before development. At some sites, additional land may be needed before development can occur. Redevelop Exstg. Park Sites that have a minimal level of improvements. Master plans are needed before development. Extensive Renovation Developed parks that either are (a) already scheduled for renovation or (b) have several basic features that are in poor condition. These sites may have problems that collectively may trigger a larger renovation project. Basic Renovation Developed parks with one or two basic features in poor condition. Correcting these problems will not modify other park features. Some of these may be bond projects that were not fully improved due to a lack of funds. Repairs Developed park with improvements that need only minor repairs or changes to a few features. Notes: a. Plans underway for clubhouse and trails at Heron Lakes Golf Course. b. Needs Resource Management Plan for habitat portion of park c. Need Capital Plan for improvements 52 PORTLAND PARKS & RECREATION “ In a recent survey that was done in our neighborhood, people overwhelmingly said that we should all have access to the unique environment we have along the river.